Work:Life Balance
At Small Fish, we really believe in the idea of finding a harmonious Work:Life balance. Together with driving profitability, improving the Work:Life balance would be one of the most common objectives for business owners that we come across. So, what is this thing we call Work:Life balance?
“Balance” itself is an interesting word to use when describing this concept. It almost makes it sound like Work and Life are two separate things that we are trying to balance against one another on some kind of giant see-saw. But is this true?
What got me onto this was a conversation between two of my friends recently. They were discussing the topic of working during the weekends. (Yes guys, you know who you are – and I will soon know if you actually read my blog posts!!).
One of my friends had been busy working all week, and right through the weekend. The other held firm to the opinion that you need to keep your weekends free from work – and do as much of the things you really want to do on the weekend as possible. He said: “work out how many more years you think you have to live, multiply that by 52, and you will realise that actually you don’t have too many weekends left”. A sobering thought!
(Now obviously, my friends are Monday-to-Friday type of people. I realise not everyone is in that lifestyle, but the principle here applies to everyone nonetheless - so ‘non-Monday-to-Friday’ people, please read on....)
I am all for the idea of getting the work:life balance right, but there was something about this last comment that didn’t quite sit well with me (beyond the sudden brutality of pondering life’s impermanence). It took a while, but then it dawned on me.
What if you really enjoyed what you did for work? What if your work was so enjoyable, that IS all you really wanted to do?
Could this ever be the case ? Surely everyone knows that “work is so bad that’s why they have to pay people to do it!” Is it possible that work could ever be such great a thing, that you shouldn’t need to “ring fence” your weekends from it? You know – it is like those people that say “well for me it really isn’t work.
Well, despite the fact that I love what I do for work, this idea also didn’t quite sit right with me. Why? Because work is not THE only thing in my life. In fact, my life also involves other people and other responsibilities.
So, thinking it through, both of my friends had valid points. You can probably afford to sacrifice a weekend or two to work– just probably not ALL the time. Ahh, this is where the balance part comes into it.
I came to the conclusion that work is actually an element, or a subset of our lives, and that Work:Life balance is about trying to create balance between all these different elements of our lives. Also, it is a balance of the different responsibilities and expectations of the many different “roles” we play in life (think worker, parent, volunteer, etc..). Without getting too spiritual, we are trying to create harmony in our lives, of which work is, and can only ever be, just one element.
So that’s what it is all about, balance and harmony. And remember – “have some fun” while you are doing it.
If you have read this far, please feel free to respond with some comments about this post – I would be interested to get some more viewpoints on this topic. Thank you.
Kristian Reiss
Small Fish Business Coaching
www.smallfish.com.au
Julie Kerim 11-Aug-2010 05:52 PM
I have worked long hours and travelled for work consistently during my career. Last year I was retrenched, and spent a long time looking for work and found that I did not have a hobby or interest. The time that would have been allocated for this was spent, looking after family and doing household chores and being busy doing the basic fundamentals for survival. What I have learnt during this period is that it is important to find a balance. I am now self employed as a business coach, and happy, no really happy. It is never too late to find a work life balance.
Julius 11-Aug-2010 06:39 PM
I think only a very small % of the population ever follow their true passions and end up in a job that is truly satisfying. I think most people 'work' just because they have cost of living pressures that need to be addressed which is why they dream about 5pm Friday from the moment they start on Monday. I think that most people think they are passengers in some pre-ordained destiny - as opposed to understanding that life is whatever you want to make it. You have control. Unfortunately we live in a welfare state that makes it too easy for people not to bother thinking or trying for themselves.
Simon Thomas 11-Aug-2010 09:37 PM
Agree wholeheartedly Kristian. And Julius, you have hit the nail on the head. I was one of those people. It has taken me a while to realise that I am in charge and only I can make a difference to my life. The balance has well truly swung to my favour. Work is awesome and life couldn't be better. All because I made the choice to address the imbalance. Passion is lost in so many of us because of a lack of balance. I can only urge everyone to search for the right balance of all of life's facets and regain passion.
Melanie Miller 12-Aug-2010 10:50 AM
I completely agree with your comments Kristian. As a single female I have spent the last 10 years working 60 hour weeks to build a successful career. I picked up the slack of other employees when weekends or trips oversea's were needed as I was the only "single one without a family". One day it dawned on me, if I did not change my situation I would remain single and without a family forever. My work had taken over every aspect of my life. Now I see that balance is essential for me. That's not to say that I am now searching to settle down, just that life needs to be more 'balanced' for me. I need to know that I can balance relationships including those with family and friends with work commitments. I have also found the joy in "me time", which previous I considered an indulgence. Now its part of my week. I will still work Saturdays (at a push) but Sunday are off limits. It's really quite liberating to take control back!
Anonymous 12-Aug-2010 04:20 PM
Read your signs, work when you want to and do something else if you don’t.
Just don't ask for sympathy, fix it before it fixes you.
I run my show and as ring master it is my Circus. I have given up I have anything to prove or a place to get to.
Old age is so wonderful.
Anonymous 12-Aug-2010 04:25 PM
I love these conversations, especially when everyone has so many different points of view.
I have had the same debate a few times before over a cold beer. I wish I had thought of doing a Blog at the time, it's a great way to gain support and claim yourself the victor!
You may have heard it said that "when you do what you love, you never have to 'work' another day in your life"?
It was pointed out to me that, even a kid growing up loving football, who makes it to an elite level as an adult, has higher expectations put on him, the stress of performance and the pressure from the club, sponsors and fans. Inevitably, what seems like a dream 'job' turns into a stressful nightmare.
I bought into that reasoning for a little while. Until, one day I used the same argument and was told, "You might get crunched in a tackle, lose a match or get abused from the sidelines, but your still playing football and getting paid a lot to do it. It beats working for a boss, having customers abuse you and worrying about staff... now it's your round". (Most of these debates seem to happen at the pub).
I now tend to believe, it is best to do something that you love, but, there will always be elements of a job that you won't like. So, you do need to find something else in your life to give you balance. My only advice would be, don't wait for the weekends, take some time each day walk away and switch off. If you disagree, let me know, we can discuss it over a drink!
